Fishing tackle box

ABSTRACT

A box for transporting fishing tackle. The tackle box may include a tackle box housing having a rigid outer shell enclosing a first internal cavity and with openings at a front and back end, which may be covered by adjustable closure panels that themselves have receptacles for fishing tackle. The tackle box housing may further include an inside wall, or multiple such walls, having a plurality of lure retaining holes disposed therethrough, each of the lure retaining holes defined by the inside wall having a substantially round wide portion and at least one substantially rectangular narrow portion extending from the wide portion. This wall may be integrated with the tackle box housing or may be provided in a separate insert, and may be formed from a transparent material if desired. Other containers, such as drawers, may also be provided in the tackle box housing or in the insert.

BACKGROUND

Fishing tackle, such as fishing hooks, lures, baits, lines, sinkers, orfloats, is often stored in a tackle box. Tackle boxes allow these andother items of fishing tackle to be organized so as to be easilyretrievable by the fisherman. Tackle boxes also ensure that potentiallyfragile items are kept spaced apart from one another or are otherwisekept protected from damage, and ensure that certain items of fishingtackle, such as lines or lures, do not become tangled up with oneanother.

Most conventional tackle box designs are boxes, typically formed fromplastic or sheet metal, having several shelves each having a variety ofdifferently-sized compartments, each of which is sized to retain sometype of item of fishing tackle. For example, a tackle box might have ashelf with a number of long, thin compartments, each intended to be usedto hold a fishing lure laid flat in the compartment. Typically, theseshelves are stored such that, when a user opens the top lid of thetackle box, the shelves are splayed outward such that the user can seemany of the compartments of each shelf.

However, certain problems with these designs exist. For example, when afishing lure is put away after use, it will typically be wet; puttingthese lures away in a box-type container may cause water to pool in thebox-type container, causing or accelerating rusting of any of the metalparts of the lure, such as an integrated fishhook. This problem can beparticularly acute for users that engage in saltwater fishing; saltresidue can cause similar problems even if the lures are allowed to drybefore being put away, often necessitating that the lures and even thecompartments of the tackle box used to transport the lures bespecifically cleaned after use.

Further, despite the fact that many tackle boxes are configured to splaytheir shelves outward to some degree in order to make their compartmentsmore accessible and more visible, fishing tackle located in a tackle boxis often difficult for a user to sort through. For example, a particularcompartment may be obscured by a shelf even in an open position, makingit difficult for the user to identify the contents of that compartment.In another example, multiple items of fishing tackle may be stacked ontop of one another in the same compartment, obscuring from view theitems of fishing tackle located lower in the stack.

Also, storing crank-baits, spinner-baits, and other lures insidecompartments of a tackle box can result in damage to the paint andfinish on the lures. If lures are stored inside compartments of a tacklebox, when the tackle box is moved, the lures inside the compartments canshift position inside of the tackle box. If the tackle box is movedsharply, such as if the tackle box is dropped or falls from some heightand impacts the ground, the lures can impact the surfaces of thecompartments of the tackle box, potentially causing damage to the lures.Further, even routine movement of the tackle box can cause the positionsof the lures to constantly shift against the surfaces of thecompartments, creating friction between the lures and the surfaces ofthe compartments, which can damage the paint and finish of the lures.

SUMMARY

An exemplary embodiment of a tackle box may be provided. The tackle boxmay include a tackle box housing, the tackle box housing having a rigidouter shell enclosing a first internal cavity, and having a frontopening at a front end and a back opening at a back end such that eachof the front opening and the back opening adjoin the first internalcavity. The tackle box housing may further include an inside wall, ormultiple such walls, having a plurality of lure retaining holes disposedtherethrough, each of the lure retaining holes defined by the insidewall having a substantially round wide portion and at least onesubstantially rectangular narrow portion extending from the wideportion; in some embodiments, this wall may be provided on a separateinsert. These walls may be, in some embodiments, transparent.

The tackle box may further include at least one adjustable closure paneldisposed on each of the front end and the back end of the tackle boxhousing, the at least one adjustable closure panel of the front endbeing sized to cover the front opening of the tackle box housing and theat least one adjustable closure panel of the back end being sized tocover the back opening of the tackle box housing, such that each of theadjustable closure panel of the front end and the adjustable closurepanel of the back end has at least one receptacle (such as a shelf, oranother such receptacle such as a magnet or closable container) disposedthereon.

According to an alternative exemplary embodiment, the at least oneadjustable closure panel may be configured to be housed in at least oneadjustable closure panel compartment disposed on the tackle box housing;for example, one or more of the adjustable closure panels may be storedin an adjustable closure panel compartment located on one side of thetackle box, and one or more of the adjustable closure panels may bestored in an adjustable closure panel compartment located on the otherside of the tackle box. The adjustable closure panels may be moved froma stored position, wherein they are wholly or partly recessed in theadjustable closure panel compartment, to a closed position, where theycover the contents of the tackle box.

In some embodiments, a fishing tackle box may include a second internalcavity separate from the first internal cavity, which may be formed inthe bottom part of the box or elsewhere, and which may house at leastone separately operable container formed within the second internalcavity. This may be, for example, a drawer or plurality of drawers.

The lure retaining holes of the fishing tackle box may include acentrally-disposed circular wide portion, and two substantiallyrectangular narrow portions each disposed on opposite sides of the wideportion and extending radially away from the wide portion, each of thenarrow portions having a radial dimension and a tangential dimension,the radial dimension of each of the narrow portions being at least twotimes that of the respective tangential dimension of the narrow portion.Some variance in this shape may be understood; for example, certainlures may have a diving fin that is curved or otherwise not straightacross, and as such curved narrow portions may be provided. Optionally,these retaining holes may have a reinforced edge; for example, the edgemay be thickened, or a separate edge reinforcement may be provided as aseparate piece.

The adjustable closure panels of the fishing tackle box may be connectedto the tackle box housing by a hinge, or by another closure. Theadjustable closure panels may allow a user to lock them or unlock themin a closed position, and may have a cover portion such that they coverany other containers of the tackle box when closed.

The fishing tackle box may further include a carry handle, which may belocated on the top portion of the tackle box housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments thereof,which description should be considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which like numerals indicate like elements, inwhich:

FIG. 1a depicts an exemplary embodiment of a fishing tackle box.

FIG. 1b depicts an exemplary embodiment of a fishing tackle box, asviewed from the front.

FIG. 1c depicts an exemplary embodiment of a fishing tackle box, asviewed from the top.

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a single-board tackle boxinsert.

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a double-board tackle boxinsert.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a lure retaining hole.

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a fishing tackle box.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description andrelated drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention.Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spiritor the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements ofexemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detailor will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of theinvention. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the descriptiondiscussion of several terms used herein follows.

As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example,instance or illustration.” The embodiments described herein are notlimiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood thatthe described embodiments are not necessarily to be construed aspreferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the terms“embodiments of the invention”, “embodiments” or “invention” do notrequire that all embodiments of the invention include the discussedfeature, advantage or mode of operation.

According to an exemplary embodiment, and referring generally to theFigures, various exemplary implementations of a fishing tackle box maybe disclosed. In some embodiments, such a fishing tackle box may allow auser to more easily view and access certain items of fishing tackle,such as fishing lures. In some embodiments, such a fishing tackle boxmay also make it easier to clean certain items of fishing tackle, suchas fishing lures. Various configurations of the tackle box may beunderstood; for example, according to some exemplary embodiments, thetackle box may have any shape (for example, it may have a flat top or arounded top) and may be constructed from any suitable material.

Turning now to exemplary FIG. 1a, FIG. 1a displays an exemplaryembodiment of a fishing tackle box 100. According to an exemplaryembodiment, a fishing tackle box 100 may include a housing 102, one ormore lure retaining boards 104 having a plurality of lure retainingholes 106, one or more shelf platforms 108 each having one or moreshelves 110 or other compartments, and one or more drawers 114, whichmay be disposed in, for example, the housing 102 or, in an embodimentwherein the lure retaining board 104 is disposed in a separate insert,in the lure retaining board 104, as may be desired. Shelf platforms 108of the tackle box 100 may be connected to the housing 102, for examplewith hinges 112 or other connectors, as may be desired. Tackle box 100may include one or more carrying handles 118 or carrying straps, oranother feature that may be used to assist in carrying the tackle box100, as desired.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the housing 102 and the lureretaining boards 104 of the tackle box 100 may be constructed from arigid material, such as metal, plastic, or fiberglass. However, inanother exemplary embodiment, one or both of the housing 102 and thelure retaining boards 104 may be constructed from a flexible material.For example, according to an exemplary embodiment, the housing 102 ofthe tackle box 100 may be constructed from a rigid material, and thelure retaining board 104 may be constructed from a flexible material,such as nylon or another fabric. Such a flexible lure retaining board104 may be configured to use the housing 102 as a frame; for example, itmay be coupled to internal walls of the housing 102 or internal cornersof the housing 102, and stretched across an internal cavity of thehousing 102. In another exemplary embodiment, tackle box 100 may insteadbe a tackle bag constructed in whole or in part from flexible material,and the lure retaining board 104 may be constructed from a rigidmaterial in order to function as part of an internal skeleton or framefor the tackle bag.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a lure retaining board 104 mayhave a plurality of lure retaining holes 106, which may be sized orotherwise configured to hold one or more lures. For example, a lureretaining hole 106 may have a wide portion, and one or more narrowportions extending away from the wide portion. In an embodiment, a lurethat has an integrated diving lip or crankbait lip, or a lure to which adiving lip can be attached, may be inserted through the lure retaininghole 106 by, for example, turning the lure sideways so that each side ofthe diving lip is substantially parallel to one or more narrow portionsextending away from the wide portion of the lure retaining hole 106. Thediving lip of the lure can then be inserted through the lure retaininghole 106. The lure may then be turned when the diving lip of the lure isall the way through the lure retaining hole 106, preventing the lurefrom being removed from the lure retaining hole 106 without turning thelure back to a position similar to the one it was in when inserted intothe lure retaining hole 106. Lures may also be inserted into the lureretaining holes 106 in another manner, or may be coupled to more thanone lure retaining hole 106, for example by looping the lure around thespace between the lure retaining holes 106, as desired.

In some embodiments, different sizes or shapes of lure retaining hole106 may be understood and may be integrated into a lure retaining board104, as desired. For example, according to an exemplary embodiment,small, medium, and large-sized holes 106 all substantially resemblingone another in shape may each be present in some quantity on a lureretaining board 104. This may allow different sizes or shapes of luresto be inserted onto or otherwise retained on the lure retaining board104, as desired.

In some exemplary embodiments, a lure retaining board 104 may beconstructed from a transparent or translucent material, such as clearacrylic. This may allow items on the other side of the lure retainingboard 104 to be seen by a user looking at one side of the lure retainingboard 104. In other embodiments, lure retaining board 104 may be opaque.In some embodiments, the sections of the lure retaining board 104surrounding some or all of each lure retaining hole 106 may beconstructed from a different material; for example, in some embodiments,an acrylic lure retaining board 104 having a number of lure retainingholes 106 may have the perimeters of each of those lure retaining holes106 reinforced with a stronger material, such as metal or thickeracrylic, in order to better prevent crack formation and proliferationaround the lure retaining holes 106.

According to some exemplary embodiments, multiple lure retaining boards104 may be present in the housing 102 of the tackle box 100. This mayallow a greater number of lures to be stored. In an exemplaryembodiment, each of the multiple lure retaining boards 104 may beaccessed from a different side of the tackle box 100. In some otherexemplary embodiments, shorter lure retaining boards 104 may be providedbetween a central lure retaining board 104 or set of lure retainingboards 104 and a shelf portion 108 of the tackle box; this may allowadditional lures to be stored within the tackle box 100 while stillpermitting access to the central lure retaining board 104 or set ofretaining boards 104. In another exemplary embodiment, only a singlelure retaining board 104 may be provided within the housing 102 of thetackle box 100; in an exemplary embodiment, a single lure retainingboard 104 may permit access from more than one side of the housing 102of the tackle box 100, if desired.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a tackle box 100 may have one ormore compartments disposed in a cover of the tackle box 100, and whichmay be flexibly attached to the tackle box 100, if desired. For example,according to an exemplary embodiment, a tackle box 100 may have aplurality of shelf platforms 108, each of which may be attached to thehousing 102 of the tackle box 100 by a hinge 112 or other flexibleattachment and each of which may contain one or more compartments, suchas shelves 110, configured to hold articles of fishing tackle. Inanother exemplary embodiment, compartments other than shelves 110, suchas, for example, drawers, or cabinet-type compartments having spaceshoused behind separately-operable doors, may be disposed in the shelfplatforms 108 instead of or in addition to shelves 110.

Other attachment configurations between a cover of the tackle box 100and a housing 102 of the tackle box 100, other than flexible attachment,may also be understood. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, a coverof the tackle box 100 may be slidably attached to the housing 102 of thetackle box 100, and may, for example, slide upward or sideways in orderto expose the contents.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a cover of the tackle box 100,such as a shelf platform 108, may be constructed from a flexible or arigid material. For example, according to an exemplary embodimentwherein a tackle box 100 is a tackle bag, a shelf platform 108 mayinstead be a flexible cover, which may have one or more pockets fortackle, as desired.

According to an exemplary embodiment, shelves 110, or other suchcompartments disposed on the shelf platforms 108, may include one ormore retaining sites or retaining mechanisms for tackle. For example,according to an exemplary embodiment, a particular section of one ormore of the shelf platforms 108 may be dedicated to holding the reels ofa user, and as such the applicable shelf 110 of the shelf platform 108may include one or more reel mounts on which one or more reels can bedisposed. Another section of the shelf platform 108 may have, forexample, a magnetic strip to which hooks or weights may be magneticallycoupled, if desired.

In some exemplary embodiments, lures to be stored may have one or moretreble hooks, instead of or in addition to other kinds of hooks.According to an exemplary embodiment, a shelf platform 108 may include,for example, one or more slots disposed therein, which may permit thelures to be hung vertically by one or more of the treble hooks, ifdesired. In some embodiments, other hooks, such as large single hooksintended to, for example, avoid weeds, may be present on a lure, and thelure may be hung by one or more other hooks instead or in addition totreble hooks, if desired. Slots may be, for example, straight and narrowslots extending from an outer portion of a shelf 110 to the base portionof the shelf 110, near where the shelf 110 meets the shelf platform 108.Slots having other shapes, such as, for example, curved or J-shapedslots, may be additionally used or used instead of other slots, ifdesired. According to some exemplary embodiments, the shelf platform 108may include one or more elastic bands, suspended under a shelf 110having one or more slots, which may be used to secure vertically-hanginglures in place, if desired.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a tackle box 100 may have one ormore compartments separate from the shelf platforms 108. For example,according to an exemplary embodiment, a tackle box 100 may have one ormore drawers 114, each operable by a handle, which may be disposed inthe housing 102 of the tackle box 100, for example under the lureretaining board 104 or elsewhere in the tackle box 100, as desired.Other compartments, such as removable storage boxes having spacesenclosed by separately-operable doors, may also be used or maysubstitute for drawers 114, if desired. In some exemplary embodiments,drawers 114 or other compartments may be separately locking, if desired,and may, for example, be releasable by operation of the handle of thedrawer 114.

In an exemplary embodiment wherein removable storage boxes are used inaddition to or in place of drawers 114, removable storage boxes may bedisposed between one or more shelves located beneath the lure retainingboard 104, or in one or more openings located beneath the lure retainingboard 104 (or elsewhere in the tackle box 100, as desired), and may befitted such that they can be slid in and out of the space between theone or more shelves or the one or more openings, allowing removal orreplacement of the removable storage boxes, if desired. In someembodiments, removable storage boxes may be configured to hold any itemsof fishing tackle; in other exemplary embodiments, removable storageboxes may be configured to hold specific items of fishing tackle, suchas lures, line, hooks, weights, tools, or other items used in fishing,as may be desired.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the shelf platforms 108 may beformed so that a cover section 116 of the shelf platform 108 fits overthe one or more compartments, such as the one or more drawers 114, whichare separated from the shelf platform 108. In some exemplaryembodiments, drawers 114 or other compartments may be located on thebottom portion of the housing 102 of the tackle box 100, and the coversection 116 may be a lower portion of a shelf platform 108 that isplaced to fit over the cover section 116. In other exemplaryembodiments, drawers 114 or other compartments may be located elsewhereon the tackle box 100, and the cover section 116 may be a correspondingportion of the shelf platform 108 such that the cover section 116 fitsover the shelf platform 108. According to some exemplary embodiments,cover section 116 may function to prevent certain individual componentsof the tackle box 100, such as drawers 114, from unintentionallyopening, and may also serve to protect those components of the tacklebox 100 from damage or from the elements.

In some exemplary embodiments, a tackle box 100 may have a handle 118 bywhich the tackle box 100 may be carried. Handle 118 may be, for example,centrally located on top of the housing 102 of the tackle box 100.Alternatively, multiple handles 118 may be present, and may for examplebe disposed on the sides of the tackle box 100; this may be done if, forexample, the tackle box 100 is particularly large and is intended to becarried with two hands or by more than one person. In other exemplaryembodiments, the tackle box 100 may have another mechanism, other than ahandle 118, to allow the tackle box 100 to be carried. For example, insome embodiments, such as when the tackle box 100 is a tackle bag, acarry strap may be present instead of or in addition to the handle 118.

Turning now to exemplary FIG. 1b, FIG. 1b shows an exemplary embodimentof a front view of a tackle box 100. As shown, and according to anexemplary embodiment, the lure retaining holes 106 of a tackle box 100may have different sizes or even different shapes, as desired.

Turning now to exemplary FIG. 1c, FIG. 1c shows an exemplary embodimentof a top view of a tackle box 100. According to an exemplary embodiment,a tackle box 100 may be one-sided, two-sided, or many-sided. Forexample, according to an exemplary embodiment, a tackle box 100 may havesimilar shelf platforms 108 located on both a front side and a back sideof the tackle box 100. Likewise, the tackle box 100 may have a pluralityof compartments, such as drawers 114, disposed on multiple sides, suchas the front and back sides, of the tackle box 100.

Turning now to exemplary FIG. 2, FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment ofa single-board tackle box insert 200. In some embodiments, the lureretaining board portion 104 of a tackle box 100 may be insertable as aseparate insert 200, the insert 200 having a base portion 202 and a lureretaining board portion 204, the lure retaining board 204 of the insert200 having a plurality of lure retaining holes 206. For example,according to an exemplary embodiment, an insert 200 for a tackle box 100having a lure retaining board 104 may be placed inside a tackle box 100by opening up the tackle box 100 to reveal the inside of the housing102, and then placing the insert 200 inside the housing 102, for exampleby attaching the insert 200 to one or more connectors located within thehousing 102, or by sliding the insert 200 into the housing 102 suchthat, for example, the base portion 202 of the insert 200 interfaceswith one or more guide rails in the inner part of the housing 102. Inanother exemplary embodiment, an insert 200 may serve as the lowerportion of a housing 102; for example, in one exemplary embodiment, aninsert 200 may slide into the underside of a housing 102 or may allow ahousing 102 to be coupled to the top of the insert 200, as may bedesired.

In some embodiments, the base 202 of the insert 200, or another part ofthe insert 200, may have one or more slots 208 in which removablecompartments, such as drawers 114, may be slotted. In other exemplaryembodiments, the base 202 of the insert 200 may have one or morecompartments integrated with the base 202 of the insert 200; forexample, the base 202 of the insert 200 may have a nonremovable drawer114 or a nonremovable door through which a compartment can be accessed.

Turning now to exemplary FIG. 3, FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment ofa double-board tackle box insert 300, which may include a base 302,multiple lure retaining boards 304 each having a plurality of lureretaining holes 306 and spaced apart by a gap 310, and a slot forremovable containers 308, or one or more containers such as drawers 114,provided within the base 302 of the insert 300.

Turning now to exemplary FIG. 4, FIG. 4 shows a detail view of anexemplary embodiment of a lure retaining hole 400. Lure retaining hole400 may be disposed in a lure retaining board 402, and may have a wideportion 404 and one or more narrow portions 406 provided on the side ofthe wide portion 404. In some embodiments, multiple narrow portions 406may be provided on separate sides of the wide portion 404; in anexemplary embodiment, narrow portions 406 may be provided on oppositesides of the wide portion 404 in order to better accommodate lureshaving wider diving lips, and in another exemplary embodiment, narrowportions 406 may be provided on non-opposite sides of the wide portion404 in order to better accommodate lures having curved diving lips. Insome exemplary embodiments, wide portion 404 may be round; in otherexemplary embodiments, the wide portion 404 as well as the narrowportion 406 may be any other shape, as desired.

Turning now to exemplary FIG. 5, FIG. 5 displays an exemplary embodimentof a fishing tackle box 500. According to an exemplary embodiment, afishing tackle box 500 may include a housing 502, one or more lureretaining boards 504 having a plurality of lure retaining holes 506, oneor more retractable and pivoting covers 508, and one or more shelves orcompartments 514, which may be disposed in, for example, the housing 502or, in an embodiment wherein the lure retaining board 504 is provided ona separate insert, in a section of the insert including the lureretaining board 504, as may be desired. Tackle box 500 may include oneor more carrying handles 518 or carrying straps, or another feature thatmay be used to assist in carrying the tackle box 500, as desired.

According to an exemplary embodiment, one or more retractable andpivoting covers 508 of the tackle box 500 may be configured such thatthey may be slidable from a covering state, wherein the one or moreretractable and pivoting covers 508 covers one or more of the sides ofthe tackle box 500, to a retracted state, wherein the contents of thetackle box 500 are exposed. In an exemplary embodiment, the tackle boxhousing 502 may include one or more vertically-disposed compartments 520on one or more of the ends of the tackle box housing 502, such that theone or more retractable and pivoting covers 508 may be slid into andstored within the compartment 520, if desired. For example, according toan exemplary embodiment, a vertically-disposed compartment 520 may bedisposed on either side of the tackle box housing 502 such that aretractable and pivoting cover 508 slidable over one of the sides of thetackle box 500 may be slid within the compartment 520 from one side ofthe tackle box 500, and another retractable and pivoting cover 508 maybe slid into the compartment 520 from the other side of the tackle box500, such that two retractable and pivoting covers 508 may be storedside-by-side with one another in the same compartment 520 when both ofthe sides of the tackle box 500 have been opened. Alternatively,retractable and pivoting covers 108 may be slidable to the side of thetackle box 500 or to another position wherein they do not block accessto the contents of the tackle box, as desired.

In some exemplary embodiments, the retractable and pivoting covers 508may be connected to the tackle box housing 502, with, for example,hinges 512 or other connectors. In other exemplary embodiments,retractable and pivoting covers 508 may be slidable on a rail.Combinations of connectors may also be understood; for example,according to an exemplary embodiment, a hinge 512 permitting rotation ofthe retractable and pivoting cover 508 may be mounted on the end of atelescoping section, such that the retractable and pivoting cover 508may be removed from a compartment 520 by extending the telescopingsection and then rotated on the hinge 512 in order to cover the contentsof the tackle box 500. In some exemplary embodiments, retractable andpivoting covers 508 may have a closure 522 such that the retractable andpivoting covers 508 can be secured in a closed position. In someexemplary embodiments, compartments 520 may also have a closure 524 suchthat, when the retractable and pivoting covers 508 are extended orunextended, the compartments 520 may be secured in order to keep theretractable and pivoting covers 508 in an extended or unextendedposition, as desired.

The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate theprinciples, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of theinvention. However, the invention should not be construed as beinglimited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additionalvariations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated bythose skilled in the art (for example, features associated with certainconfigurations of the invention may instead be associated with any otherconfigurations of the invention, as desired).

Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded asillustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should beappreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention asdefined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fishing tackle box storage device, comprising:a tackle box housing, the tackle box housing comprising a rigid outershell enclosing a first internal cavity, the tackle box housing having afront opening at a front end and a back opening at a back end, each ofthe front opening and the back opening adjoining the first internalcavity, the tackle box housing further comprising an inside walla lureretaining board having a plurality of lure retaining holes disposedtherethrough, each ofwherein the lure retaining holes defined by theinside wall havinghave a substantially round wide portion and at leasttwo substantially rectangular narrow portions extending from the wideportion, wherein the substantially round wide portion and at least twosubstantially rectangular narrow portions have a rigidly defined shapeand wherein each of the at least two substantially rectangular narrowportions is configured to receive a side of a lure body or lure lip; andat least one adjustable closure panel disposed on each of the front endand the back end of the tackle box housing, the at least one adjustableclosure panel of the front end being sized to cover the front opening ofthe tackle box housing and the at least one adjustable closure panel ofthe back end being sized to cover the back opening of the tackle boxhousing, each of the adjustable closure panel of the front end and theadjustable closure panel of the back end having at least one receptacledisposed thereon wherein the tackle storage device has an outer wallsurrounding all perimeter sides of the lure retaining board, wherein atleast two of the plurality of lure retaining holes with the same shapehave differently sized substantially round wide portions and differentlysized at least two substantially rectangular narrow portions.
 2. Thefishing tackle box of claim 1, wherein the rigid outer shell furtherencloses a second internal cavity separate from the first internalcavity; and further comprising at least one separately operablecontainer formed within the second internal cavity.
 3. The fishingtackle box of claim 2, wherein the at least one separately operablecontainer is a plurality of drawers.
 4. The fishing tackle box storagedevice of claim 1, wherein each of the lure retaining holes comprises: acentrally-disposed circular wide portion, and the two substantiallyrectangular narrow portions are each disposed on opposite sides of thesubstantially round wide portion and extendingextend radially away fromthe substantially round wide portion, each of the narrow portions havinga radial dimension and a tangential dimension, the radial dimension ofeach of the narrow portions being at least two times that of therespective tangential dimension of the narrow portion.
 5. The fishingtackle box storage device of claim 1, wherein each of the lure retainingholes further comprises an edge reinforcement disposed around theperimeter of the lure retaining hole.
 6. The fishing tackle box of claim1, wherein the at least one adjustable closure panel is connected to thetackle box housing by a hinge.
 7. The fishing tackle box of claim 1,wherein the at least one receptacle of the at least one adjustableclosure panel comprises a shelf.
 8. The fishing tackle box of claim 1,further comprising a carry handle disposed on the top portion of thetackle box housing.
 9. The fishing tackle box storage device of claim 1,further comprising a plurality of inside walls lure retaining boardshaving a plurality of lure retaining holes disposed therethrough, eachof the lure retaining holes defined by the inside walls having asubstantially round wide portion and at least one substantiallyrectangular narrow portion extending from the wide portion.
 10. Thefishing tackle box storage device of claim 1, wherein the inside walllure retaining board is transparent.
 11. A system, comprising: Aafishing tackle boxstorage device, the fishing tackle boxstorage devicecomprising: a tackle box housing, the tackle box housing comprising arigid an outer shell enclosing a first internal cavity, the tackle boxhousing having a front opening at a front end and a back opening at aback end, each of the front opening and the back opening adjoining thefirst internal cavity; and at least one adjustable closure paneldisposed on each of the front end and the back end of the tackle boxhousing, the at least one adjustable closure panel of the front endbeing sized to cover the front opening of the tackle box housing and theat least one adjustable closure panel of the back end being sized tocover the back opening of the tackle box housing, each of the adjustableclosure panel of the front end and the adjustable closure panel of theback end having at least one receptacle disposed thereon; and an insertdisposed within the housing and abutting the housing along a perimeterof the insert, the insert comprising a base and an inside wall a lureretaining board having a plurality of lure retaining holes disposedtherethrough, each of wherein the lure retaining holes defined by theinside wall having have a substantially round wide portion and at leasttwo substantially rectangular narrow portions extending from the wideportion, wherein the substantially round wide portion and at least twosubstantially rectangular narrow portions have a rigidly defined shape,the insert being sized to fit within and adapted to be inserted into thefirst internal cavity of the tackle box housing, and wherein each of theat least two substantially rectangular narrow portions is configured toreceive a side of a lure body or lure lip, and wherein at least two ofthe plurality of lure retaining holes with the same shape havedifferently sized substantially round wide portions and differentlysized at least two substantially rectangular narrow portions.
 12. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the tackle storage device comprises a firstinternal cavity, the insert further comprises a base and the base of theinsert encloses a second internal cavity; and further comprising atleast one separately operable container formed within the secondinternal cavity.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least oneseparately operable container is a plurality of drawers.
 14. The systemof claim 11, wherein each of the lure retaining holes comprises: acentrally-disposed circular wide portion, and two substantiallyrectangular narrow portions each disposed on opposite sides of the wideportion and extending radially away from the wide portion, each of thenarrow portions having a radial dimension and a tangential dimension,the radial dimension of each of the narrow portions being at least twotimes that of the respective tangential dimension of the narrow portion.15. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the lure retaining holesfurther comprises an edge reinforcement disposed around the perimeter ofthe lure retaining hole.
 16. The system of claim 11, wherein the tacklestorage device further comprises at least one adjustable closure panelisconnected to the tackle box housing by a hinge.
 17. The system of claim11, wherein the at least one receptacle of the further comprising atleast one adjustable closure panel comprises a shelf comprising at leastone receptacle.
 18. The system of claim 11, wherein the insert furthercomprises a plurality of inside walls lure retaining boards having aplurality of lure retaining holes disposed therethrough, each of thelure retaining holes defined by the inside walls having a substantiallyround wide portion and at least one substantially rectangular narrowportion extending from the wide portion.
 19. The system of claim 11,wherein the inside wall lure retaining board of the insert istransparent.
 20. A fishing tackle box, comprising: a tackle box housing,the tackle box housing comprising a rigid outer shell enclosing a firstinternal cavity, the tackle box housing having a front opening at afront end and a back opening at a back end, each of the front openingand the back opening adjoining the first internal cavity, the tackle boxhousing further comprising an inside wall having a plurality of lureretaining holes disposed therethrough, each of the lure retaining holesdefined by the inside wall having a substantially round wide portion andat least one substantially rectangular narrow portion extending from thewide portion; at least one adjustable closure panel disposed on each ofthe front end and the back end of the tackle box housing, the at leastone adjustable closure panel of the front end being sized to cover thefront opening of the tackle box housing and the at least one adjustableclosure panel of the back end being sized to cover the back opening ofthe tackle box housing; and at least one adjustable closure panelcompartment having an opening on each of the front end and the back endof the tackle box housing, the at least one adjustable closure panelcompartment being sized to fit the at least one adjustable closure panelof the front end and the at least one closure panel of the back end;wherein each of the adjustable closure panel of the front end and theadjustable closure panel of the back end is slidable between a coverposition and a recessed position, the cover position of the adjustableclosure panel of the front end being a position wherein the adjustableclosure panel of the front end covers the front opening of the tacklebox housing and the recessed position of the adjustable closure panel ofthe front end being a position wherein substantially all of theadjustable closure panel of the front end is housed within the at leastone adjustable closure panel compartment, and the cover position of theadjustable closure panel of the back end being a position wherein theadjustable closure panel of the back end covers the back opening of thetackle box housing and the recessed position of the adjustable closurepanel of the back end being a position wherein substantially all of theadjustable closure panel of the back end is housed within the at leastone adjustable closure panel compartment.
 21. The system of claim 11,wherein the fishing tackle storage device is a tackle box.
 22. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the fishing tackle storage device is atackle bag.
 23. The tackle storage device of claim 11, furthercomprising a second lure retaining board spaced between the frontopening and the lure retaining board, wherein the second lure retainingboard is shorter than the lure retaining board to allow access to thelure retaining board.
 24. A lure retaining device comprising: a surfacehaving a plurality of lure retaining holes disposed therethrough, theplurality of lure retaining holes comprising a round central cavity andat least two narrow lip receiving cavities projecting therefrom; and anouter wall surrounding a perimeter of the surface; wherein the at leasttwo narrow lip receiving cavities have a spaced gap between a firstparallel edge and a second parallel edge, wherein the at least twonarrow lip receiving cavities are configured to receive a portion of alure lip when a lure is being inserted into the lure retaining hole andwherein the depth of the surface is configured to allow the lure lip topass completely through the at least two narrow lip receiving cavitiessuch that the lure lip is not disposed within the at least two narrowlip receiving cavities when the lure is fully inserted in the lureretaining hole, wherein at least two of the plurality of lure retainingholes with the same shape have differently sized central round cavitiesand differently sized at least two narrow lip receiving cavities. 25.The lure retaining device of claim 24, wherein the at least two narrowlip receiving cavities are curved along a longitudinal length.